ILC Dover to open new plant in Sussex County

Relocation of newly acquired subsidiary’s manufacturing operations will bring more than 100 new jobs to Delaware

DOVER, Del. (Jan. 17, 2013) – Engineering development and manufacturing firm ILC Dover will bring 115 new jobs to Delaware after moving the manufacturing operations of its recently acquired subsidiary, Grayling Industries, to a new plant in Sussex County later this year.

Gov. Jack Markell, who announced the new jobs in Thursday’s State of the State Address, said ILC Dover’s decision to move Grayling’s manufacturing operations to Delaware is indicative of the state’s friendliness toward small businesses, especially those on the cutting edge of new technology and innovation.

The newly constructed plant near Seaford will allow Grayling to move its current production facility in Juarez, Mexico, to the United States. That production line includes Guardian™ protective packaging for food, chemical, and pharmaceutical dry powder and liquid applications. Grayling also manufactures the leading brands for the asbestos abatement and remediation industry worldwide, including Avail™ glove bags, D-Con™ decontamination enclosures, and Control™ chemicals.

“This brings jobs back to the United States, and there’s no place we’d rather have those jobs than Delaware,” Markell said. “We want Delaware to be the place where this new synergy between ILC and Grayling takes shape and blossoms. As Delaware’s economy continues its steady path to a full recovery, it is companies like ILC Dover that will provide a strong core that we can rely on.”

“We continue to find the State of Delaware very cooperative in their efforts to help the industry grow and prosper. We are excited to have the opportunity to bring jobs back to the United States and the State of Delaware,” Wallach said. “ILC Dover and Grayling Industries will continue to grow as we help our customers and bring innovative products to the market.”

Frederica-based ILC Dover, known for making spacesuits for NASA, the airbag system for the Mars Rover and Personal Protection Equipment for military, homeland security and industrial users, purchased Grayling earlier this year to complement its flexible containment products for the pharmaceutical industry.

While Grayling’s manufacturing operations are moving to Delaware, the subsidiary’s offices will remain in Alpharetta, Ga.

As part of the agreement to move Grayling’s manufacturing operations to Delaware, ILC Dover has requested a Strategic Fund Performance Grant in the amount of $364,500 for the creation of 115 new full-time positions in the state. The company also requested a Strategic Fund Capital Expenditures Grant in the amount of $187,860, or a 3 percent match on qualified capital expenditures up to and including $6,262,000. The funding is contingent on approval by the Council on Development Finance.

ILC Dover plans to move the first line of products to Delaware in April, when it will hire 35-40 new positions, and complete the move of the other production lines by the end of 2013, when it plans to fill all 115 positions. The company will employ roughly 560 people once the new positions are filled.

Levin lauded the company for choosing Sussex County as the new site for Grayling’s production facility.

“They could have gone anywhere to do this, and it shows a real commitment on their part that they are bringing their recently acquired business, and the accompanying jobs, to Delaware,” Levin said. “We were eager to work with them to make this happen. We wanted to secure these jobs for Delaware.”

Sussex County Council President Michael H. Vincent said ILC Dover’s decision to bring good-paying manufacturing jobs to the area will provide a “shot in the arm” for Seaford and western Sussex County.

“As many of us know, the loss of good manufacturing jobs, particularly in the Seaford area, coupled with the economic downturn in recent years, have hit some communities harder than others,” Vincent said. “This announcement helps lay the groundwork for a more diversified and robust economy in the years to come.”

About the Delaware Economic Development Office

The Delaware Economic Development Office is an executive state agency responsible for attracting new investors and businesses to the state, promoting the expansion of existing industry, assisting small and minority-owned businesses, promoting and developing tourism and creating new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State. DEDO is a Certified Economic Development Organization, accredited by the International Economic Development Council. Visit dedo.delaware.gov.

About ILC Dover

The company was initially formed as a branch of the International Latex Corporation in 1932. Since 1947, ILC has been active in the design and development of products for both government and industry. Most ILC products are comprised of softgoods materials, products that are flexible by nature and result in innovative solutions to customer problems. Whether protecting personnel in hostile environments, containing potent pharmaceuticals, or developing unique inflatable devices, ILC has an enviable record of performance. By drawing from a blend of highly qualified personnel and a sound base of both proven and innovative technologies (the same attributes that helped us put man on the moon and cushion rovers on Mars), ILC continues to develop reliable hardware and unique softgoods. Visit www.ilcdover.com.